This Year's Software Can Offer
Break During Tax Preparation

By

Walter S. Mossberg

Updated Feb. 11, 1999 12:01 a.m. ET

O NE SILVER LINING in Washington's tedious impeachment festival has been that Congress and the White House haven't been able to focus on one of their favorite activities: making it harder and more complicated for citizens to pay taxes. Alas, they will soon be free to turn their full attention to this game.

I know as little about the tax code as most of you, and I share the common dread of annual filing. But your computer can help ease the pain of taxes if you use tax-preparation software. At the very least, these programs...